Detachable magazine



Feb. 22, 1966 s. GRIPPO DETACHABLE MAGAZINE Filed July 28, 1964 INVENTOR. LOUIS S. GRIPPO ATTORNEY United States Patent fi 3,235,994 Patented Feb. 22, '1 966 3,235,994 DETACHABLE MAGAZINE Louis S. Grippo, 138 lVIerritt Drive, Butler, Pa. Filed July 28, 1964, Ser. No. 385,711 8 Claims. (CI. 4250) This invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to a magazine or clip containing plurality of cartridges and which may bequickly and easily attached or detached from a rifle without any alterations.

Although not limited thereto, the present detachable magazine is particularly adapted for use on military-type rifles which use box magazine-trigger units. Examples of thistype of rifle are 30/06 and 30/03 Springfield, American Enfield, and M. 98 and M. 95 Mausers.

Detachable magazines have heretofore been provided in the art, as for example, those detachable magazines illustrated in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,997,803 and 3,092,924. As is known, a rifle of the above-described type includes a magazine receiving housing within which a detachable magazine is inserted. Pivotally supported catch mechanisms, of various arrangements, have been employed which cooperate with apertures or slots provided in the wall of the detachable magazine for securing the same within the magazine receiving housing. Because of slight variations in the dimensions between the pivotal catch member and the upper magazine stop, the magazine or clip employed in one rifle may not be interchanged with the magazine or clip employed in another rifle of the same make. Accordingly, the magazines normally are hand-fitted to the particular rifle upon which it is to be used.

The principal objects of the present invention include:

To provide a magazine which may be quickly and easily attached or detached from a rifle without any alterations to original rifle;

To provide a magazine which is usable on a plurality of rifles; I

To provide a detachable magazine having a spring latch of novel arrangement for maintaining the magazine within the magazine receiving housing of a rifle; and

To provide a magazine or clip having a spring latch of novel arrangement including means for compensating for the difl erences in the dimensions found between rifles of the same make.

In accordance with the present invention, there is pro vided a magazine or clip which is generally rectangular in shape and adapted to contain a plurality of cartridges. The present magazine incorporates a conventional follower therewithin which is biased in an upward direction by a reversely-bent leaf spring. The cartridges rest on top of the follower member and are biased in an upward direction by the reversely-bent leaf spring. At the top of the magazine, there is provided inwardly-bent flange members which prevent the complete ejection of the cartridges and of the follower member when the cartridges have been expended. A portion of the upper rear wall of the magazine is cut out to provide passage of the bolt action of the rifle for the purpose of pushing the uppermost cartridge out of the magazine and into the barrel in position for firing.

The present detachable magazine is provided with a novel spring latch arranged to hook over the catch plate normally found in a rifle, for the purpose of maintaining the magazine positioned within the magazine receiving housing of the rifle. Means also is provided for compensating for the variations in dimensions between the rifles of the same make. Therefore, the present detachable magazine may be employed in a plurality of rifles of the same make or in other rifles having similarly arranged magazine receiving housings and catch plates.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the present detachable magazine, with portions cut away to show details;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the present detachable magazine;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a spring latch employed in the present detachable magazine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in cross section, of the present detachable magazine inserted within the magazine receiving housing of a conventional rifle;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIVI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the latch means illustrated in FIG. 4 showing the relation between it and the spring latch prior to locking the present detachable magazine within the magazine receiving housing; and

FIG 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 7, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present spring latch having a configuration suitable for use in the magazine receiving housing of a Mauser-type rifle.

The present detachable magazine is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is generally indicated therein by the numeral 10. The detachable magazine 10 is generally rectangular in shape and includes a bottom wall 12, upstanding side walls 14, 16 and upstanding forward and rearward end walls 18, 20, respectively. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the upstanding side walls 14, 16 converge toward the forward end wall 18.

Within the detachable magazine 10 there is provided a reversely-bent leaf spring 22 having its lower end secured to the bottom wall 12 and its upper end secured to a follower member 24. As is conventional, the fol lower member 24 is supported by the reversely bent leaf spring 22 and is biased toward the open top of the magazine 10. At the upper rearward portion of the upstanding side walls 14, 16 there is provided inwardlyabent flange member-s 26, 28, respectively, which prevent the complete ejection of the follower member 24 through the open top.

The detachable magazine 10 is provided with a novel spring latch generally indicated by the numeral 30. The spring latch 30 preferably is formed from a strip of spring steel which has been bent into the shape best illustrated in FIG. 3.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the spring latch 30 is generally L-shaped including an upstanding leg-32 and a horizontal leg 34. At the upper end of the upstandingleg 32 there is provided a hooked end 36 having a surface 38 thereof which extends rearwardly of and perpendicularly from the upstanding leg 32. The horizontal leg 34 includes first and second leg portions 40, 42. The first leg portion 40 is offset upwardly from the second leg portion 42. The general plane of the first leg portion 40 is illustrated by the dash-dot outline numbered 43. As can be seen, the second leg portion 42 preferably diverges from the point of intersection with the first leg portion 40. The upstanding leg 32 and the second leg portion 42 preferably are mutually perpendicular. The first leg portion 40 is provided with a central slot 43 extending from its free end inwardly toward the second leg portion 42.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring latch 30 has its-first leg portion 40 extending through an opening 46 formed in the bottom wall 12 of the magazine 10 by punching out a strip 47 thereof. The spacing between the inner surface of the strip 47 and the outer surface of the bottom wall 12 is such that the first leg portion will have its upper surface maintained engaged with the outer surface of the bottom wall 12. A threaded stub 44 depending from the bottom wall 12, is received within the slot 43. A nut 45 received on the stub 44, releasably secures the spring latch 30 to the magazine 10. Loosening of the nut 45 permits the spring latch 30 to be moved longitudinally of .the magazine 10 to provide for slight adjustments in the position of the upstanding leg 32 with respect to the rearward end wall 20 of the magazine 10.

Reference is now directed to FIG. 4 wherein there is illustrated a trigger guard unit generally designated by the numeral 48 and positioned thereabove. a rifle action genrally designated by the numeral 50, The trigger guard unit 48 and the rifle action 50 are illustrative of those units employed, for example, in a 30/06 or 30/03 Springfield'or American Enfield rifles.

The trigger guard unit 4 8 includes a magazine receiving housing which is open at the top and at the bottom and within which is positioned the detachable magazine 10 of the present inevntion. Extending from the forward lower end of the magazine receiving housing 52 is an attaching plate 54 having a lightening recess 55 and an upstanding bolt receiving socket 58. Extending from the rearward lower end of the magazine receiving housing 52 is a second attaching plate provided with a trigger bow 62 depending there-from. A slot 64 is provided in the second attaching plate 60 in the. region of the trigger bow 62 through which extends the trigger (shown in dash-dot outline) of the rifle. The slot 64 intersects a lightening recess 66 provided in the second attaching plate 60. At the rearward end of the second attaching plate 60 there is provided an apertured socket 68 for receiving an attachment bolt (not shown).

At the forward end of the second attaching plate 60 there is provided a catch means 70 which resides within an opening 72 provided in the second attaching plate 60. The catch means '70 comp-rises a catch plate 74 pivoted at 76 to the opposite sides of the second attaching plate 60. Normally, the catch means 70 serves to retain a floor plate of the above-described rifles.

The rifle action 50 includes a receiver or frame 78 within which is received a -bolt 80. Extending from the forward end of the frame 78 is barrel 82 having a rifled bore 84 within which is received a cartridge 86. The receiver or frame 78 includes on each side thereof a lower edge 88 adapted to be engaged -by the detachable magazine 10 of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 46, inclusive, it will be seen that the detachable magazine 10 resides within the magazine receiving housing 52 of the trigger guard unit 48. The side Walls 14, 16 of the magazine 10 engage the side walls 90, 92. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the rearward end wall 20 of the magazine 10 extends upwardly beyond the side walls 90, 92, to a point within the receiver or frame 78 of the rifle action 50. The upper portion of the rearward end wall 20 is cut away as at 94 to permit the feeder mechanism of the rifle action 50 to enter and push out the uppermost cartridge 96.

The side walls 14, 16 of the magazine 10 converge toward the forward end Wall 18. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the width of the magazine 10 is greater than the width of the lower portion of the frame '78 whereby the lower edges 88 serve as stops to limit the upward movement of the magazine 10 into the rifle action 50. Hence, the upper edges of the side walls 14, 16 engage the lower edges 88 as shown in FIG. 6. The magazine 10 is now in position for loading cartridges into the barrel 82.

As stated above, the present detachable magazine 10 may be quickly and easily attached and detached from the magazine receiving housing 52 of the trigger guard unit 48. In FIG. 7, the detachable magazine 10 is illustrated partially inserted within the magazine receiving housing 52. As can be seen, the upstanding leg 32 of the spring latch 30 is positioned rearwardly of the surfaces upon which it will be engaged when hooked thereto (see FIG. 4). To complete the insertion of the detachable magazine 10, the upstanding leg 32 is pressed forwardly toward the magazine 10 so that the hooked end or latch 36 will clear the catch plate 74. Thereafter, the magazine 10 may be pushed upwardly until such time as it engages the lower edges 88 of the frame 78. At this time the hooked end 36 will be hooked over the catch plate 74. It should be noted, that when the spring latch 30 is in the position shown in FIG. 4, it will be under tension, i.e., it is bent out of its normal angled position illustrated in FIG. 1. Hence, the magazine 10 will be maintained within the magazine receiving housing 52.

Occasionally there is a difference in the distance between the lower edges 88 and the latch plate 74 between rifles of the same make. This dimensional difference is compensated for by the offset between the first and second leg portions 40, 42 and by the normally angled relation of the second leg portion 42 with respect to the general plane of the first leg portion 40. The offset permits the second leg portion 42 to undergo upward or downward movement to latch onto the catch plate 74 without first engaging the rearward end of the bottom Wall 12.

In the present detachable magazine 10, the spring latch 30 is disposed externally of the magazine body wherein it is easily accessible. Furthermore, minor adjustments in the position of the upstanding leg 32 with respect to the end wall 20 are made possible by loosening the nut 45 and sliding the spring latch 30 in the appropriate direction in order to compensate for dimensional variations between the latch plate 74 and the end wall of the magazine receiving housing 52. Still further, the offsetting of and the angled relation between the first and second leg portions 40, 42 of the spring latch 30 also compensates for differences in the distance between the lower edges 88 of the frame 73 and the latch plate 74-. The present detachable magazine 10 not only is easily and quickly attachable and detachable from the receiving housing 52 but also is usable with other rifles of the same make and other rifles having a trigger guard assembly or unit of the same configuration. It should be evident, then, that the provision of the spring latch 30 to a conventional magazine unit 10 provides a versatile detachable magazine which heretofore was not available.

Reference is now directed to FIG. 8 wherein an alternative embodiment of the present spring latch is illustrated having a configuration adapting it for use in the trigger guard unit of a Mauser-type rifle. Corresponding numerals will be employed to identify corresponding parts already described. In FIG. 8 a fragment of a trigger guard unit is illustrated as having a magazine receiving housing 102 within which a detachable magazine 10 is positioned. Extending rearwardly from the lower end the housing 102 is an attaching plate 104 provided with an opening 106 having a recess 103 at its forward end. In this embodiment, the magazine 10 has a spring latch 30 including an upstanding leg portion 32 having a configuration Which is similar to the configuration of the upstanding leg 32 of the embodiment of FIG. 3. At the upper end of the upstanding leg 32 there is provided a forwardly extending hooked end which, as can be seen, is engaged in the recess 108 of the attaching plate 104.

In this embodiment, the second leg portion 42 and the upstanding leg 32' are mutually perpendicular. The second leg portion 42 normally diverges from the general plane of the first leg portion 40. Hence, the second leg portion 42 must be bent upwardly in order to insert the hooked end 110 within the recess 108.

In this embodiment, the spring latch 30 again is slideable, after loosening the nut 45, in a direction to the right or to the left of FIG. 8 within the opening 46 provided in the bottom wall 12 of the magazine 10'. Hence, when installing the magazine 10', the spring latch 30' first is slid backward, that is to the left of FIG. 8, through a distance which is suflicient to permit the passage of the hooked end 110 into the opening 106. The magazine then is inserted within the magazine receiving housing 102. As in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the magazine 10' is pushed upwardly until the upper edges of the side walls 14, 16 abut the lower edges of the rifle action. Thereafter, the second leg portion 42 is bent upwardly and the entire spring latch 30' is slid forwardly so that the hooked end 110 engages in the recess 108. Tightening the nut 45 will secure the spring latch 30' in place. T o detach or retract the magazine 10 from the magazine receiving housing 102, the spring latch 30 is slid backward, that is to the left of FIG. 7, to release the hooked end 110 from the recess 108. At this point the magazine 10' will fall out of the magazine receiving housing 102.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be to suit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a magazine having a cartridge receiving cavity defined by a bottom wall, upstanding side walls and upstanding forward and rearward end walls which are contiguous along one edge with said bottom wall; and means within said cartridge receiving cavity for biasing cartridges disposed therein toward the open top of the magazine, the improvement in means for detachably securing said magazine to a rifle within the magazine receiving housing thereof, comprising: latch means connected to said bottom wall adjacent to said rearward end wall and extending rearwardly thereof; said latch means having an upstanding leg portion spaced from said rearward end wall and including a hooked upper end adapted to hook over a catch means normally provided in said rifle; said latch means being formed from resilient material whereby said magazine will be biased upwardly into the magazine receiving housing of said rifle.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said latch means is formed from spring steel.

3. In a magazine having a cartridge receiving cavity defined by a bottom wall, upstanding side walls and upstanding forward and rearward end walls which are contiguous along one edge with said bottom wall; and means within said cartridge receiving cavity for biasing cartridges dlsposed therein toward the open top of said magazine, the improvement in means for detachably securing said magazine to a rifle Within the magazine receiving housmg thereof, comprising: a generally L-shaped spring latch having a first leg portion connected to said bottom wall ad acent to said rearward end wall, a second leg portion contiguous with said first leg portion and olfset from the general plane of said first leg portion and spaced apart from said bottom wall, and an upstanding leg contiguous with said second leg portion; said upstanding leg includmg a hooked end at its upper end adapted to hook over a catch means normally provided in said rifle; said upstanding leg being rearwardly spaced from said rearward end wall; said second leg portion being bendable about the line of intersection between said first leg portion and said second leg portion whereby said hooked end may be engaged over said catch means; the resilient property of said latch means causing said magazine to be biased uipiwardly into the magazine receiving housing of said r e.

4. The improvement of claim 3 whereby said first leg portion is slideably connected to said bottom wall whereby the distance between said upstanding leg and said rearward end wall may be adjusted.

5. The improvement of claim 4 including means for securing said spring latch to said bottom wall.

6. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said hooked end extends rearwardly of said upstanding leg and is adapted to engage a catch means disposed on that side of said upstanding leg which is remote from the rearward end wall of said magazine.

7. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said hooked end extends toward the rearward end wall of said magaz ne and is adapted to be engaged over a catch means disposed between said upstanding leg and the rearward end wall of said magazine.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein said first leg portion is slideably connected to said bottom wall whereby said forwardly extending hooked end is displaceable forwardly into engagement with said catch means.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MAGAZINE HAVING A CARTRIDGE RECEIVING CAVITY DEFINED BY A BOTTOM WALL, UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS AND UPSTANDING FORWARD AND REARWARD END WALLS WHICH ARE CONTIGUOUS ALONG ONE EDGE WITH SAID BOTTOM WALL; AND MEANS WITHIN SAID CARTRIDGE RECEIVING CAVITY FOR BIASING CARTRIDGES DISPOSED THEREIN TOWARD THE OPEN TOP OF THE MAGAZINE, THE IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS FOR OPEN TOP OF THE MAGAZINE, THE ZINE TO A RIFLE WITHIN THE MAGAZINE RECEIVING HOUSING THEREOF, COMPRISING: LATCH MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM WALL ADJACENT TO SAID REARWARD END WALL AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREOF; SAID LATCH MEANS HAVING AN UPSTANDING LEG PORTION SPACED FROM SAID REARWARD END WALL AND INCLUDING A HOOKED UPPER END ADAPTED TO HOOK OVER A CATCH MEANS NORMALLY PROVIDED IN SAID RIFLE; SAID LATCH MEANS BEING FORMED FROM RESILIENT MATERIAL WHEREBY SAID MAGAZINE WILL BE BIASED UPWARDLY INTO THE MAGAZINE RECEIVING HOUSING OF SAID RIFLE. 